Unlike many others Billy had a fair fight with Canelo. Almost every other fighter has buckled to some of Canelo's demands. Billy even got a ring the size of a football field FFS. Billy never fought in a ring that big in his career. Did Billy really do better than Jacobs? Imagine if Jacobs got everything his own way. Billy did ok, but I thought he would for a few rounds because he's tricky. He was always going to lose over 12.
I just watched the clip and that is another reason why Canelo is the best in the sport, it's amazing how many little things you miss watching it live at 5am in the morning. Whilst Saunders was distracted playing pranks, Canelo was busy learning his craft and as good as Mark Tibbs is as a trainer, Reynoso seems to be on another level.
Re-watched the highlights and Canelo primed BJS to react by throwing obviously telegraphed high and wide hooks to the head and swinging for the liver. The rear hand uppercut was the punch by design that Canelo set BJS up for. His corner really pulled the strings on BJS and it's insane the gulf in class and strategies between the two given the long camps and preparation both had.
100 % Looking back over Billy Joe Saunders career, I wonder how much time he actually spent in camp working on technique and strategy as opposed to just losing the excess weight. I think one of the key reasons why Canelo has improved so much in recent years is simply due to the fact he is no longer struggling with weight and his camps are primarily focused on learning, technique and strategy. Mayweather was very similar in that respect. I also remember an interview with Naz where he said that he really struggled with his weight for the Barerra fight and was only on weight for the actual weigh in. Taking nothing away from Barerra but the performance by Naz was very lacklustre.
I remember Hatton saying he didn't know why everyone got on his back because he always made weight. Well yeah, that's the bare minimum expected of you, it's nothing to shout about. Whilst he would spend half his camp on a treadmill, his opponents would be honing strategy and technique.
Agreed. I saw him on a fight night before sitting next to Nelson. He looked disgusting and even his fingers were VERY fat.
Hatton is probably the best recent example. His career was very hit and miss when he reached world level, great performances against Tszyu and Castillio mixed with very patchy performance against the likes of Collazo, Urango and Lozcano. I don't think he ever really recaptured the form he showed on the night he beat Tszyu. Hatton is also a good example of how a promoter will stall a fighters progress at world level if they're a cash cow. Most of his prime years were spent defending the WBU title to a packed out M.E.N arena against low risk opponents.
Agreed, I think the first performances looked better than what they were due to those guys being shot. I get your point though.
BJS stock hasn’t risen in my eyes. I wasn’t surprised, like many others, that the fight was like it was while it lasted. Bill is a tricky southpaw with good movement. As for the injury and all the bravado voiced by fighters before an event. Until it happens and your in real pain and danger, you will never know how your mind and body will react until it’s upon you. It’s easier to say than it is to do. Canelo can certainly punch and is a real force to be reckoned with. Looking forward to his next fight.
I don't think his stock has risen. We knew the talent he had but he has come up short against an elite fighter. It exemplified the difference between world class and elite. He won 2 or 3 rounds but I think Canelo was happy to sacrifice them rounds to lure Saunders into that uppercut. I've watched it a few times now and I can only really give Saunders the 5th and 6th.
